Two Significant Events Round Out Westminster’s Packed 2023 Homecoming Weekend Schedule
Mark your calendars in Blue Jay blue for Oct. 27-28, 2023, when Westminster will witness what is sure to be the most exciting and event-packed Homecoming Weekend in the history of the College.
Beginning with Fall Family Weekend activities that start at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, and ending with the 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Fundraising Auction, and Dinner, there is something for all Blue Jays, young and old.
Derek Zander, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Athletics Advancement, and Strategic Programs, explains that Homecoming Weekend 2023 is a time for alumni, students, and the Fulton community to come together in celebration of Blue Jays athletics.
“The anticipation of this weekend is growing, and we look forward not only to celebrating the stadium dedication with our generous donors, Kent and Judith Mueller, but we are excited about interacting with current and former Blue Jays and their families,” he says.
For a complete Family Weekend schedule, please visit our website.
11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28: Dedication of the Kent and Judith Mueller Stadium and Vicki Mueller Memorial Plaza (Rain Plan – Tent in the Vicki Mueller Memorial Plaza/Lightning Plan – Coulter Science Center Lecture Hall)
The cornerstone of the weekend will be the dedication of the Kent and Judith Mueller Stadium and Vicki Mueller Memorial Plaza at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. Attend the event in person, or join the livestream.
The ceremony will serve as the celebratory beginning of the noon homecoming game that will see the Blue Jays take on the Greenville Panthers.
President and Chief Transformation Officer Donald P. Lofe, Jr., and other Westminster officials, student-athletes from all 19 varsity Blue Jays sports, cheerleaders, ROTC members, and many more will gather to celebrate the family of Kent, ’62 ΣΑΕ, and Judith Mueller of Paradise Valley, Arizona.
The ceremony will formally honor the Mueller legacy of giving at Westminster and the life of the Muellers’ beloved daughter, Vicki Lauden Mueller, who tragically passed in 2020.
“For decades, Westminster has benefited in so many ways from the significant and ongoing generosity of Kent and Judy, and this stadium serves as a symbol of additional growth currently taking place within the College community,” Lofe says. “On behalf of the entire Westminster community, I sincerely thank the Muellers for making this impressive facility possible and for their steadfast support in multiple ways over so many years.”
The newly completed Kent and Judith Mueller Stadium is a standout among colleges of comparable size, allowing players and fans alike to gather in a contemporary, 1,500-seat facility, which includes a press box; field lighting; concession stands; a team store; a scoreboard; restrooms; storage areas; tasteful landscaping; an impressive, lighted entrance featuring columns designed to match Westminster’s signature Greek-revival architecture; a brightly-lit ceremonial area flanked with United States, Missouri, and Westminster flags; and more. Located on the corner of Seventh Street and Hickman Avenue, the new stadium and memorial plaza serve as a highly attractive anchor for the west end of campus, completely transforming the look of the College.
Zander emphasizes the new stadium will benefit Westminster’s many varsity athletes, who currently comprise about 60% of the total student population. “This beautiful facility will enhance the overall experience of our student-athletes, as well as all current and future students, for years to come,” Zander says.
Fans will experience a variety of Blue Jays sports competitions at the stadium, which overlooks the newly turfed Blue Jay Field that was completed during Phase I of construction in 2018, while others can find a quiet place to reflect at the Vicki Mueller Memorial Plaza located adjacent to the stadium.
6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28: The 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Fundraising Auction, and Dinner at Mueller Leadership Hall
At 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in Mueller Leadership Hall, Westminster will proudly recognize seven individuals and a sports team who represent the best of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics throughout a number of years:
- The 2003 Football Team
- Erica F. Burney, ’17 IND
- Caroline “Gracie” Koonce, ’19 ΚΑΘ
- Donald P. Lofe, Jr., ’79 IND
- The Kent, ’62 ΣΑΕ, and Judith Mueller Family
- Craig A. McIntosh, ’88 ΔΤΔ
- Matthew W. Mitchell
- Vernon F. Scheiter, ’77 IND
Read more about each inductee on Westminster’s website.
The evening will feature keynote speaker R. Marcus “Mark” Buroff, ’76 ΔΤΔ, who is the Managing Director and Chief Information Officer for the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Local sportscaster and television personality Rod Smith of KRCG TV13 will serve as master of ceremonies, while a brief, live auction, an ongoing silent auction, and a dinner will round out the evening.
Individual tickets to this significant fundraiser ― which directly supports Westminster’s student-athletes ― cost $125. To attend the event, please register on Westminster’s website.
In reflecting on what is to be a much-anticipated Homecoming Weekend that involved months of preparation, Zander says he is especially looking forward to celebrating the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees.
“The 2023 Hall of Fame honorees are accomplished individuals who represent the best of our athletic programs, touching five decades of Blue Jay success, and each person being honored is truly talented,” Zander reflects. “I hope this event is one that will be remembered for many years to come.”
For more information about Homecoming 2023, please contact Derek Zander, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics, Athletics Advancement, and Strategic Programs, at [email protected].
